An Encounter With Nature

Spreading the message wide and clear, Save Nature

Sitting beside the window of a moving train

Had always excited me and so did today again.

How amazing it is to see the farms widely stretched,

The brown huts, cattle fastened,

Half-clad children playing in the mud, water being fetched.

 

As the train geared up, so did I.

Preparing to witness Nature’s beauty,

My adrenalin rushing high.

 

‘Twas a bright day, warm and sunny.

I waited with bated breath for the train to hurry.

Crossing the buildings white one-by-one.

The city, in the blazing sun, looked like a nun.

I awaited the sight of the farms, the greenery to show.

Farmers harvesting in one field, in the other, ready to sow.

But the river of concrete buildings kept flowing with me.

Breaking its bounds time and again,

As if on a flooding spree.

 

Poor farmers burning their feet in the scorching heat.

Ploughing dry fields with a hope to live.

They stoop to tear the earth with their hands.

Weary eyes searching for the green blood,

To ooze out of its heart, quenching their thirst.

They hope to live, I hope to see

The green surroundings where I could flee.

 

Sitting beside the window of the moving train,

I feel the winds getting stronger, I feel the rain.

I look forward to witness its beauty this time atleast.

But what I saw was the face of a beast.

They lashed down in the farms, they lashed down on the soil.

They destroyed every little crop and danced at the spoil.

Little banana plants, young and naive,

Got brutally thrashed by the merciless rain.

“Oh! Dear! Please be kind for we have committed no crime.

We were simply enjoying our adolescence!”

They bent before it and pleaded their innocence.

 

I was disheartened, I was sad.

I asked Nature, “what was it in your mind, that you had?”

Nature replied, ”I too have a heart and a soul,

You people did not listen when you were told.

You cut my features, you made me bleed.

You disrobed me to fulfil your need.

You hurt me, you ignored my cry.

I pleaded with you to save me, but you left me to die.

How then do you expect now to see my beauty ?

When I have nothing left in me but fury.”

 

I was scared, I felt ashamed

Her threat had left me frightened.

I folded my hands, I went on my knees.

Asking for forgiveness for my wrong deed.

I promised her I will be good.

I will spread the message in every neighbourhood.

She opened her arms and smiled wryly,

“You are my children and I cannot remain angry.

Hold on to me and I shall never leave you.

Protect me forever and I shall forgive you.”

 

Reviews

[zainul]

Love the wonderful commentary while you were sitting in a train.
You have vividly painted the countryside and the curse that fell upon the farms and other elements of nature.
Your relaxed rhyming gave me a pleasant feeling.
Whatever is the go of the time,you are a poet in the heart.
So,keep yourself with rhymes.
That is better for persons like us.
Could you think about the destructive image of rain again?
Rain is generally considered as a blessing.
But,you have viewed it as a beast.
If you seriously want to keep it as it is,you may put an adjective like torrential or flooding rain in the line, "I feel the rain."
This is,however, my personal view.
You may ignore it.

[Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta]

Wow..that was quite a review..i am glad u put forth your honest feelings about this poem..i will keep in mind all that u said..thanx zainul ..

[zainul]

Thank you for the great gesture,Ranjita.
Bie kheye eshe ae shundor kotha pore amar mon vore gese.
Abar kotha hobe onnyo kono kobita nie.:)

[Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta]

Sure..gud nite :-)

[zainul]

Shuvo ratri,Ranjita :-)

[Rhiti Bose]

Ranjita, I love how the poem goes from a beautiful description of nature and rural India to the wrath of nature. I think this is one of your best work so far. Brilliant.

Also I think I have told you before, try free verse, so when you don't have to worry about rhyming, you can be more creative.

[Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta]

Thank You Rhiti..am trying free verse..but rhyming has become a habit with me..it'll take time i guess :)

[Ranjita Ghosh Dasgupta]

I really believe we all should save nature in our own small way atleast before we lose it forever !1